[Second Office Information Session Report - Part 1]
How to Build a Lawyer's "Career" and "Strengths" (Part 2)

Mimura Komatsu Law Office was established in 2019 by attorneys Ryoichi Mimura and Shunya Komatsu.
Initially starting as a small firm with five lawyers, we expanded our business focusing on intellectual property, dispute resolution, corporate law, and international affairs, and as of April 2026, we have grown to a team of 30 lawyers.

On April 7, 2026, Mimura Komatsu Law Office held its second firm information session, which was attended by approximately 30 legal apprentices, law school students, and undergraduate students, both in person and online. The program included an introduction to the firm's history and areas of practice, a panel discussion, a Q&A session, and a social gathering, fostering a lively exchange of opinions.
This article, based on a panel discussion by lawyers Naoki Sugimoto, Miyuki Ebisawa, and Masashi Miyazawa, introduces how these lawyers, who have followed different career paths, have built their expertise, as well as how they build relationships with clients and engage with the industry.

Click here for a list of reports from the office information sessions.

Self-introduction, past experience, and reasons for joining.

(I.e.
First, I'd like you to introduce yourself and tell us about your career history, the reasons for your transfer, and what aspects of this firm you found appealing.
Let's start with lawyer Sugimoto, who specializes in entertainment law.

杉 本
My name is Naoki Sugimoto, and I am from the 68th graduating class. This is my 11th year in law. My previous firm was what you might call a "local law" firm, where I worked for 10 years, handling all kinds of cases including divorce, inheritance, traffic accidents, and legal matters for small and medium-sized enterprises.
There were two main reasons why I became a lawyer. One was that I wanted to become a prosecutor. I grew up watching the drama "HERO" starring Takuya Kimura, so to be honest, I simply admired it. However, as I actually saw and heard about the work of prosecutors, I realized there was a gap between the way of working I had envisioned and the reality, and my desire to work in a team grew stronger, so I gave up on that idea.
Another reason was that I wanted to work in the entertainment industry. Having grown up during the golden age of variety shows, I had a strong passion for entertainment. However, I was hesitant to enter the entertainment industry in the usual way, and given my personality—that I don't want to do the same things as everyone else—I wondered if there was a way to get involved from a different angle. I thought that by using the tool of law, I could engage with various industries with a fresh perspective no matter how old I was, so I chose to become a lawyer. Later, through a fortunate connection, I ended up working as a practitioner within an entertainment production company, and I feel that about half of my motivation for becoming a lawyer has now been fulfilled.
The reason for my move to Mimura Komatsu Law Office is that I have known Attorney Komatsu for over 10 years, and at my previous firm, there was hardly anyone I could consult with about entertainment-related matters. I also wanted to work as part of a team, so after discussing it with them, I decided to move last year.

(I.e.
Thank you. Next, I'd like to ask Attorney Ebisawa, one of our founding members and a specialist in fashion law, to speak.

Ebisawa
My name is Ebisawa. After graduating from university, I worked as a bureaucrat at the then Ministry of Home Affairs, now the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Driven by a strong desire to work in the fashion industry, I joined Takarajimasha, a publishing company, and worked as an editor for the magazine "Spring" for about four years. After that, I studied in England to become a fashion editor, and became independent after returning to Japan. I worked as a stylist and fashion editor for various magazines such as "GINZA," "ELLE," "Harper's BAZAAR," and "Casa BRUTUS" for about eight years.
I became a lawyer because I wanted to contribute to the fashion industry as a lawyer with deep knowledge of the industry. It was around the time that the law school system had just started, a few years prior, and I was encouraged by the system's aim of allowing people from diverse backgrounds to become lawyers. At the time, we were in the midst of a digital transition, and the reuse of photographs taken for magazines was becoming a problem. I felt that lawyers who knew the industry well were needed to solve these problems, and then I remembered that I had graduated from law school, so I decided to become a lawyer myself.
Studying was incredibly tough, and there were times when I felt that working was much better, but thanks to the support of my friends, I managed to pass the exam on my second attempt. Since I started at the age of 41, my career as a fashion editor is still longer than my career as a lawyer.
Regarding the transfer, I received an invitation from Mr. Komatsu, and I decided to join the company because I felt it was the right timing.

(I.e.
Thank you. I'm Attorney Miyazawa. I handle a wide range of cases, including patent-related matters, litigation and disputes, intellectual property, bankruptcy trusteeship, and personal inheritance and divorce cases.

Miyazawa
My name is Miyazawa. I'm in the 69th class, and I'm in the same class as Ebisawa-san.
My motivation for becoming a lawyer stemmed from my admiration for lawyers I saw on television directly helping clients in cases such as divorce, inheritance, and criminal matters. Originally, I wanted to work as a local lawyer, but while waiting for the results of the bar exam, I watched "Shitamachi Rocket" and became interested in intellectual property and startup support. Having played American football in college, I've always felt a sympathy for the idea of ​​"small and medium-sized enterprises and startups beating large corporations," and I think that image resonated with my aspirations to become a lawyer.
My previous firm was well-known for intellectual property, especially copyright, but I didn't join because I wanted to become a copyright expert. Rather, I was drawn to the phrase "Those without resolve should leave" on the firm's website, and that's what motivated me to take on the challenge. There, I gained a variety of experience, including working as a local lawyer. From around my third year, I switched to a style that was almost entirely commission-based, and I also started doing my own sales activities because I wanted to support startups.
After that, Mr. Ebisawa contacted me, and I met with Mr. Komatsu. I saw firsthand how he works without being confined to the role of a lawyer, in order to contribute to the entertainment and fashion industries, and that made me want to join this firm, so I joined.

Regarding my current work responsibilities

(I.e.
Now that I've heard about everyone's backgrounds, I'd like to ask about your current work. Attorney Sugimoto, you mentioned earlier that you wanted to work in a team. What is the current situation with your work?

杉 本
About 70% of my work is related to entertainment and performing arts. My experience at an entertainment production company has been invaluable, and what I learned there was that "nothing gets done by just going through the motions." I feel there is a real need for someone to bridge the gap between laws and regulations and the realities of the industry.
My competitors aren't other lawyers, but rather consultants or perhaps those with unclear roles working alongside celebrities. I believe that a trustworthy lawyer should fill that position, and I'm currently exploring opportunities to be involved from the business development stage. I have clients with whom I can discuss even the business strategies of film distribution and publicity companies, and I approach each project with a fresh perspective.
Beyond entertainment, we also provide support to clients in fields such as healthcare, pharmacies, and systems companies, focusing on communication and strategy development.

(I.e.
I believe that what lawyer Sugimoto said about "advice other than legal matters" is actually a very important point. When various players come into a project, designing a scheme for how to organize each person's role and responsibility is supposed to be the job of a consultant, but we receive a lot of inquiries about this at Mimura Komatsu Law Office.
A common scenario is that after all the roles and responsibilities and budgets have been decided, the client asks for a review of the contract. However, in reality, it is most beneficial for a lawyer to be involved before project discussions even begin. This allows for early detection of potential risks and ensures that the scheme is properly structured.
Regarding monetary values ​​and market rates, lawyers are in the best position to know the practical implications, given that they review a large volume of contracts. However, surprisingly, many lawyers are indifferent to monetary matters. By providing advice beforehand, such as, "For this amount, you can take this much risk," or "For this amount, this scheme is too risky," it becomes easier for clients to understand whether negotiation is necessary and what direction they are aiming for. Proposing solutions that go one step beyond what the client is looking for—that is the stance of Mimura Komatsu Law Office.

Ebisawa
I may be a bit unusual, but almost 100% of my work is related to fashion. I receive consultations from a wide range of clients, including apparel brands, factories, and overseas PR agencies. The strength of having industry experience lies in my ability to provide accurate advice because I understand the structure, key players, and workflow of the fashion industry.
As lawyer Sugimoto mentioned earlier, there are many people in the fashion industry who are like "producers or directors with unclear roles," but because we understand their roles and workflows, we can quickly clarify their legal position and other legal aspects. Our industry knowledge makes it easier for us to understand what our clients want to say, and in that sense, we could be described as translators, as we translate those ideas into legal arguments.
Furthermore, because I've seen a lot of fashion-related projects, I feel that one of my strengths is being able to discuss things like, "Isn't this rate too low? Let's negotiate," based on my understanding of market rates for licensing.
Aside from my legal work, I serve as an outside director for three companies: Takashimaya, Takihyo, and the Culture Entertainment Group. I also actively engage with the government, working on projects such as creating a fashion law guidebook and campaigning for amendments to the Unfair Competition Prevention Act. I am convinced that legal reforms are necessary for the entire industry to improve, and I intend to continue working in that area.

Miyazawa
Compared to lawyers Ebisawa and Sugimoto, I'm closer to a more orthodox lawyer in some ways, but since coming here, I've mainly been handling patent litigation. We often have large-scale cases, and we're always working in teams of four or five lawyers, with veteran lawyers, including those with experience as judges, guiding me. At my previous firm, there were at most two or three of us, including senior colleagues, so the sense of teamwork is completely different.
Patent cases involve constantly dealing with technology, so I spend my days learning about the technical aspects from the client's development team, structuring that information legally, and presenting it to the court. Patent litigation also includes technical briefings, which are opportunities to present specialized technical information, so I feel that Attorney Ebisawa's description of me as a "translator" is absolutely accurate.
In addition, drawing on my experience as a local lawyer, I also handle matters such as inheritance and bankruptcy (as a bankruptcy trustee). I have also long been interested in supporting startups, and I make an effort to provide commentary from the business model development stage. Startups are constantly struggling with cash flow, so I often advise them on where and how to raise funds, with my financial consultant clients also present.

Regarding "sales" and building relationships with clients

(I.e.
Finally, I'd like to hear about your experiences with "sales," specifically how you meet clients and build relationships with them.

Miyazawa
I often meet clients through social gatherings or connections from my student days. When I attend events where there aren't many lawyers, such as meetings for business owners or startup pitch events, I'm often surprised to hear people say, "You're a lawyer?" It makes me feel like there are many opportunities to get recognized.
In terms of my sales style, in addition to social gatherings, I've also been challenging myself with writing papers and books, things I wasn't originally good at, and I'm using information dissemination to showcase my expertise.
Finally, I'd like to say one last thing: "Cherish the connections you already have." In my case, a senior from my university club started a business, and I've received work from them. Existing connections often lead to projects. While it's important to expand your network of new acquaintances, I hope you'll carefully maintain the connections you already have.

杉 本
I also actively participate in social gatherings, but I am very conscious of not giving off the impression that I'm begging for work. A piece of advice I received from an executive at a production company still resonates with me: "It's important to make everyone a fan." Even if it's someone I'm working with on a project I'm in conflict with, I was told to make them a fan of mine. That mindset has become my basic approach. First, I try to become friends with the people I meet and let them understand what kind of person I am.
Our office displays many works of art, so when we invite people to "please come and visit," it seems to change their image of a law firm, and we receive positive feedback. Through expanding our relationships in this way, I became close to people I met at an event, and that led to me going to the Cannes Film Festival. It was entirely out of my own pocket, but I believe it's important to jump into interesting things with spontaneity.

Ebisawa
I'm actually not very good at drinking parties, and I find it physically difficult to keep attending them, so I've adopted a style that focuses on information dissemination. This includes using social media like X, speaking at seminars, and responding to media inquiries.fashionlaw.tokyoWe strive to create a system where people who see our content will contact us, by accumulating exposure and communication, such as by operating a free legal consultation service.
As we age, our time becomes increasingly limited due to declining physical strength and changes in our life stage. Therefore, I believe it's important to build a foundation of connections while we're young and still have the energy and time.

(I.e.
The word "sales" might sound intimidating, but ultimately, it's about meeting people, increasing your connections, and letting them know you exist. My own connections with major clients in the fashion industry started with someone I happened to be sitting next to in an open-air bath in Yugawara, so you really never know what will lead to work. That's why it's important to show your face and keep visiting the fields you're interested in and the industries you want to support. I believe that becoming someone people remember as "I know a lawyer" is the quickest way to be reached out when they need help.
First, I want to assure you that our firm already has plenty of cases, so you won't be in a situation where you have to start soliciting clients immediately after joining. Initially, it will be sufficient for you to gain experience by working on cases alongside senior colleagues. You can study law thoroughly once you join the firm. That's why, during your current training period or while you're still a student, I would like you to spend your time increasing opportunities to meet people.

In our next report, we will address the questions raised by participants at this office information session.

【2026.6.10】